Networking Sessions: A Unique & Intimate Experience

April 5, 2018

by ​Heather Beaudoin

As a CCDA member and staff member of Equal Justice USA, I’ve been incredibly grateful to CCDA for giving us the opportunity to host a networking session during the annual national conference. This will mark the 4th year that we’ve hosted a networking session, and looking back, we consider these opportunities to be among the best events of the year.

CCDA networking sessions offer a unique and intimate experience for participants to engage in a meaningful way. In my experience, I have found that the networking sessions are really the best way to interact with individuals at the conference.

I always learn so much from those who are presenting during plenaries and workshops, but it’s in the networking sessions where I’ve been able to truly connect and build relationships.

As an organization, we have appreciated the space given to us to share our hopes and dreams for the future – to engage in deeply important conversations about how we can work together to bring change, in our case, to the justice system. We have met allies during these sessions who have helped us to lift up injustice all across our nation.

Why wouldn’t we host a session? They offer us a meeting space and advertise the gathering to conference attendees without charging us a penny. In addition, we’ve connected with like-minded conference goers from all over the country, and have had the opportunity to hear stories and experiences and to pray together.

It’s a gift, really. We will continue to take advantage of networking sessions for as long as they exist, and we’re grateful to CCDA for allowing us the opportunity.